Minority Opinions Such as '50-50' Also to Be Reported
Final Decision to Be Made by Supreme Council and Nomination Management Committee
The People Power Party's Local Election General Planning Committee has decided, in principle, to increase the proportion of party member votes in next June's local election primaries from the current 50% to 70%, and will report this plan to the party leadership.
People Power Party's Na Kyung-won, Chairperson of the Local Election General Planning Committee, is speaking at the full meeting of the Local Election General Planning Committee at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
Seo Cheonho, Deputy Secretary-General for Strategic Planning, told reporters after the final meeting at the National Assembly on this day, "The 70% (party member vote) to 30% (public opinion poll) primary method was decided by the General Planning Committee, so we will report it as a recommendation to the leadership."
The General Planning Committee will report the 70% party member vote plan as the main principle, but will also submit minority opinions to the Supreme Council, including the '50-50' plan and a proposal to reflect a citizen evaluation panel.
Na Kyungwon, head of the planning committee, explained, "At today's meeting, there were one or two people who suggested the ratio should be 7 to 3 (party member vote to public opinion poll), and some suggested 5 to 5. We will include the minority opinions so that the Supreme Council can make the final decision."
Initially, the General Planning Committee proposed raising the proportion of party member votes from 50% to 70%, but there have been opinions both inside and outside the party that the proportion reflecting public sentiment should be increased.
The General Planning Committee also introduced a bonus point system to increase youth nominations. Candidates under the age of 45 will be divided into age groups, and bonus points will be awarded to their vote percentages: 60% for those under 35, 50% for those aged 35 to 40, and 40% for those aged 40 to 45. The plan is to significantly lower the barriers to entry for young and new politicians.
Na said, "The key is to open up nominations widely to young people," adding, "Compared to the Democratic Party, you will see how dramatically we are opening the door to young and new candidates."
The local election primary rules will be finalized by the Central Party Nomination Management Committee after discussions at the Supreme Council, based on the recommendations of the General Planning Committee.
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